Pinarello-Q36.5’s Pidcock missed out on the first Monument triumph of his career by the finest of margins despite Pogacar’s crash just before the crucial climb of the Cipressa.<\/p>\n
The four-time Tour de France winner has now come out on top at four of cycling’s five Monuments, with only Paris-Roubaix, which takes place next month, left to add to his collection.<\/p>\n
Pidcock said that he could not help but be disappointed despite going toe-to-toe with a legend of the sport.<\/p>\n
“Honestly, I need time to reflect because right now, I feel pretty disappointed,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It hurts to be so close, if it was Tadej alone and I was alone, I would be very happy. I was told it is four centimeters and that hurts quite a lot that it was so close.<\/p>\n
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What is left for Pogacar to complete cycling?<\/p>\n
Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n
“Obviously, I mean, I lost to Tadej, he is one of the best cyclists ever, so I can’t be disappointed, but I can’t help it.<\/p>\n
“I felt amazing, last year I was super disappointed because I knew I could be there in the front.<\/p>\n
“It is nice to prove that I can be there this year, that I have got the legs for that, but as I say, I can’t help but be disappointed.<\/p>\n
“It was so close to a Monument win, but I need to look at it from a wider perspective because I think what I did was quite amazing and I am quite proud.”<\/p>\n
Mathieu van der Poel was also in the running until the final climb, the Poggio, which saw him fall behind.<\/p>\n
That set the stage for a dramatic two-man race, with Pogacar setting off on his sprint first before beating his British rival to the line.<\/p>\n
Pogacar said he was afraid that he had mistimed his sprint.<\/p>\n
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Watch: Pogacar beats Pidcock to the line by half a bike length to win Milano-Sanremo<\/p>\n
Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n
“Yeah, when I crashed, for a second I thought it was all over because it was just before the most important part of the race, it was not ideal.<\/p>\n
“Luckily, I was back on the bike quickly, and there was not too much damage to me or the bike.<\/p>\n
“Tom Pidcock was really strong. In the end, me and Tom, we came together, and I was lucky in the sprint.<\/p>\n
“Tom is a really fast guy, we all know this. He is punchy, he is sharp, and he looks in really good shape.<\/p>\n
“I was a bit afraid when he let me go first, but I also knew I could not wait too long because he has a better kick than me, and in the end it was really close.”<\/p>\n
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Pidcock: Pogacar told me he won\u2019t race Milano-Sanremo again <\/p>\n
Video credit: TNT Sports<\/p>\n
It is back to the drawing board for Pidcock, but TNT Sports expert Adam Blythe insists it is the sharpest he has ever seen the 26-year-old.<\/p>\n
“He needs to be proud because that is probably the best I have Tom, ever,” he said. “Tom will be able to pick out his own mistakes and pick out little bits from today’s ride.<\/p>\n
“Today we saw him right at the front for about 50km, sitting fifth, sixth or seventh wheel. It is about marginal gains this race, if you can save a tiny bit of energy, you save it.”<\/p>\n